HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2007 (43) Resolution Supporting the Ratification of the
Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact
Resolution No. 43 (d66))
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, the waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin are
important public natural resources shared and held in trust by the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River states and provinces; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes are the world's largest source of surface freshwater
and are essential to the economic health and quality of the life of Great Lakes basin
communities, citizens, and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River provide fresh drinking
water; support countless family, commercial, tourism, and cultural activities for basin
residents and visitors; drive economic development and improve the economic value
of shoreline communities; support critical wildlife habitat and aquatic and coastal
ecosystems; and support agricultural and industrial activities; and
WHEREAS, despite their size, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence are vulnerable
because they are finite and are at risk of depletion and degradation with only one
percent of the water in the Great Lakes being recharged each year; and
WHEREAS, future diversions and consumptive uses of the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River basin water resources have the potential to significantly impact the
environment, economy and welfare of the Great Lakes ;
and
WHEREAS, Wisconsinites and citizens of other Great Lakes states have the right
to manage the Great Lakes, and the duty to protect, conserve, restore and improve
the Great Lakes for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of present and future
generations; and
WHEREAS, the most effective means of protecting, conserving, restoring,
improving and managing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin waters is
through the pursuit of strong, unified and cooperative principles, whereby Wisconsin
sets a forward- thinking example for other Great Lakes states with strong policies,
enacted and adhered to by all Wisconsinites; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources
Compact ( "Great Lakes Compact ") is an appropriate and necessary baseline for
strong, forward- thinking policies to protect the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes Compact can and should be strengthened to better
protect the Great Lakes and the Wisconsin residents whose lives and livelihoods
depend upon them by:
• Requiring measurable, meaningful water conservation practices.
• Requiring an environmentally responsible return of all diverted waters.
• Clarifying the bottled water exemption to safeguard against unlimited and
unregulated diversions one bottle at a time.
• Set permit and monitoring standards for large water users within the Great
Lakes basin.
• Maintain the integrity of the Great Lakes watershed by establishing fixed
community boundaries.
• Assure an open, public approval process for diversion requests and provide
public enforcement options.
; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes Compact is not binding until ratified by each Great
Lakes state legislature and approved by the U.S. Congress.
THEREFORE be it resolved that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors calls
upon the Governor and legislators of Wisconsin to quickly ratify the Great Lakes
Compact along with passage of strong implementing legislation using the six points
above so that it may help protect Wisconsin's Great Lakes and may allow the Great
Lakes Compact to become enforceable law in the Great Lakes states.
Offered by the Land and Water Conservation Committee on December 18th, 2007
YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE
Ronald
p ❑ ❑ Raymond
❑ ❑ ❑ Lois Burris
❑ ❑ ❑ Gene Ruetz
❑ ❑ ❑ William Peavey 4) e ,
Sharon
Norton ,,��//�� - /
❑ ❑ ❑ Bauman cx; ..a./[Bie V//; � V W
❑ ❑ ❑ Ken Graf2. ' •
I This Resolution was adopted by the St. Croix
Reviewed by Corporation Counsel on P r( I County Board of Supervisors on /o? • 0 7
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Greg merman, Corporation Counsel Cindy Campbell, Clerk